After a few years in which many predicted her retirement, Anna Wintour was actually promoted by Condé Nast as artistic director for all the mass media company’s publications. Many consider her a style icon and if you’re looking for timeless advice, you can’t go wrong with a few fashion tips from Anna Wintour.
The editor-in-chief of American Vogue is one of the biggest power brokers in the fashion industry and her unique style is considered flawless by many, despite her love of furs. Check out some of the best fashion advice you’ll ever get, straight from Anna Wintour.
Develop a Flattering Silhouette
Trends come and go, but what works for you is timeless, and that should be your top priority in building your wardrobe according to the Vogue editor-in-chief. “Find your own style and stay with it. Find what looks best on you, your shape and your size, and feel confident wearing it,” is definitely one of the best fashion tips from Anna Wintour, shared with The Wall Street Journal. The same advice also applies to your hair. There’s nothing trendy about Wintour’s pageboy bob haircut, but it’s flattering for her face shape and she’s turned it into an iconic look.
Invest in a Few Great Items
When you have limited funds, never settle for an item you’re not crazy about. Instead, save the money you’d spend on clothes that are just OK, for a really stunning piece that complements your personal style. “Buy just a few really good pieces. Wear them over and over instead of buying 100 iffy things. Be sure that you love them, that they look good on you, that they fit and they work with your life,” Wintour explained in a 2020 interview.
Dare to Be Different
One of the more indirect fashion tips from Anna Wintour is to be yourself and not conform to trends so much that you get lost. According to GraziaDaily, the Vogue editor-in-chief recently spoke out against mermaid fishtail gowns, especially the nude variety, which turn the red carpet into a bland affair. “They have all these teams of people telling them what to do, what to wear, how to do their hair, make-up. And they’re so scared of being criticized, whereas, you know, what’s wrong with looking different? How many mermaid fishtail strapless sequins [gowns] can we see?”
Real also: How to Dress Up Denim
Find the Right Brands for Your Budget
While Wintour supports high fashion in the pages of Vogue, she’s a big supporter of brand that manage to use good ideas to create clothes available to the general public. “Fashion is for everybody. I take my hat off to somebody like the Gap. Or Marc Jacobs with his young Marc line. And everybody who is doing fashion at a less expensive level that still has real design,” Wintour explained for WSJ.
Don’t Be Afraid of Color
One of the fashion tips from Anna Wintour aimed at professional women who want to project a confident and professional image, the addition of a strong color is always a good choice, according to the Vogue editor-in-chief. “Everyone should have one piece of color in their wardrobe. Mix it up with black or white. You can make basic things look a hundred different ways when you have one colorful piece,” she explained.
Invest in the Right Accessory
If you’re gonna pay a lot of money for a stunning accessory, make sure that it works for both elegant looks, along with more casual outfits. “Have something that is a lot of fun in your wardrobe, something personal that you can use to jazz up a pair of jeans or put over an evening dress,” Wintour told The Wall Street Journal.
Find the Right Shoes
One of the most important fashion tips from Anna Wintour isn’t about what the fashion icon says, but about what she does. She’s been wearing variations on the same nude sling-back pumps since 1994. Made especially for her by Manolo Blahnik, the shoes work with any outfit. While her customized shoes cost around $800, every woman can find a favorite brand of quality budget footwear.
See more: How to Choose Comfortable Shoes
Turn a Drawback into a Fashion Statement
Another indirect piece of advice from the Vogue editor-in-chief has to do with her oversized sunglasses. If you follow other fashion tips from Anna Wintour, know that her glasses are a prescription because her eyes can’t handle the lighting during runway shows.
Photos: Thinkstock, PR Photos